What the $()#(#*$&((&%)*%)%&$&#^@%@$@$!

Can you tell how I am feeling tonight? One word will help you all figure it out - USCIS.

After waiting over three weeks for our approval, we did not receive one today. We did not receive a denial, but the USCIS office needs current child abuse clearances in order to process our approval.

From titling this post....What the $()#(#*$&((&%)*%)%&$&#^@%@$@$! I guess you can tell exactly how I am feeling tonight!

Once we received the news, I was on the phone with not only our social worker, but our agency as well. Both are working together to get this taken care of. In the end, we needed to send in new clearances applications and with that said - I stood in line at the USPS for over an hour tonight so I could Express "Over-Night" Mail our requests for the clearances. Hoping to get this resolved before Christmas ~ UGH.

Just the though of STILL NOT having our paper work completed - makes me ill. I did a lot of crying today, cursing, phone calling and more cursing than I have done in a long time. Still a nasty bag of emotions as I sit here typing this...

Here's praying for a better tomorrow.

WINNER!

Lisa from The Long Road To China is the lucky winner of Mei Faith Studio Giveaway! Congratulations Girl!!!!

SnapShot Sunday ~ Sisters...

Ah ~ Sisters...

Is there any thing more to say...

Why yes...there is!

See these two are truly sisters ~ in our eyes!

They fight like two sisters would...

They share like two sisters would...

They take care of one another like sisters should...

and

They love one another like sisters should.

(and seeing how I am a sister as well ~ I know exactly how a good sister should be)

My sister, Lisa, and I are almost 4 years apart. Once we hit "adulthood ', four years wasn't that big of a deal, but growing up...that 4 years age difference was a lot. When she was playing with dolls - I was playing with my bottle & wearing diapers, when she was playing outside with the other kiddos from our neighborhood - I was playing inside with my dolls, when she was enjoying those hot summer days out walking with her friends - I was told to stay home and not be a tag-along. (growing up) My sister did at times act as a little mother-hen" to me - which is all sweet & well - but I so wished I had a sister that I do have now! I prayed that one day I would have two daughters that would be close in age and have that sister bond that I so longed for...

and boy did I get it!

These two amaze me ~ every single day! I so wished my sister & I had a closeness (growing up) like these two have...

My girls are only two years apart. Francesca (my oldest) is four while Annabelle (my youngest) is two. They are able to do a lot of things together that I was never able to do with my sister (growing up). They both love to play games with one another. They both love to draw & color with one another. They both love to play outside with one another. They both love to watch TV with one another and they both love that feeling of being independent from taking care of one another (no need for mother-hens here).

Now don't get me wrong - these sisters do look out for one another. Both make sure that the other one is well taken care of ~ always (even if they are fighting with one another). And while I know that the fighting is not something that I should laugh at, I do find myself smiling just a little when I hear them go at it!

My two daughters - these sisters - play very well together. Most of the time taking turns and enjoying all the fun that having a sister can bring....





It is going to be exciting around here once Benjamin comes home. I have a strong feeling that our little man is so going to rock these two sisters' world!

did she or didn't she...oh yes she did!

This is a drawing I found one evening after everyone else was all tucked into bed. The next morning I asked Keith if he happened to draw anything on the doodle board last night and he said, "No, but I know Francesca was playing with it." I than showed him the drawing and I think his mouth hit the floor...as did mine when I first saw it. (please remember as much as I dislike to call myself an "artist", I am...and I know...or should I make that knew... full well that "art" is not...was not...Francesca's hidden talent). With that said, when Francesca finally got up, I proceeded to ask her if she drawn the picture and her response was, "Yes, Mommy! Can't you see, that is Daddy, you, me, and Annabelle. Do you like it Mommy?"

Oh course we all know my answer to that question.

As for Francesca, she truly loves to draw, color, paint, and craft {just about everything}. And as you can see from the photo displayed above ~ my baby has some hidden talent!!!


***Don't forget to enter in our Mei Faith Studio Tis The Season Part Two Giveaway***

Tis The Season ~ part two

OK...so I just can't resist sharing some of my wonderful finds this holiday season, but this time I have a little something special that is totally unique {one-of-a-kind} and was hand made personally by me!




Seeing how my jewelry business Mei Faith Studio is still going strong, I thought I share with you all a creation...just for you.

This pendant is truly a work of art! The large African Turquoise that was used is simply beautiful and the Green Howlite and Pink Korean Jade beads....along with the sterling silver beads and posts...just added the right accents to bring out the colors within the turquoise. This pendant measures 3" long and is all ready to be displayed on any chain/necklace you desire...

PLUS - I will be giving a $20 store credit to my etsy shop, Mei Faith Studio! You'll be given 20 Mei Faith Studio Dollars to use on any piece that is featured!

{If you are the lucky winner of pendant, I will be shipping it out to you in a silver draw string jewelry pouch...in case you are "thinking" about giving it as a gift.}

The rules are the same as before...every comment you post at the end of this entry will qualify you to be entered ~ it is just that easy! (I will be taking entries for this give away until 11:59PM on December 10th)

Again, just a little something to let you all know how much each & every one of you mean to me.

and Merry Christmas from our blog to yours!

(a little early) SnapShot Sunday ~ featuring Francesca with MY something new

Well, this post isn't only about my Francesca - but it is about my new......!

Two weeks ago...I FINALLY broke down and made the purchase of a life time (well at least to me it was)...and my new BIG purchased finally arrived the week before Thanksgiving and boy am I having a blast playing with it!

What is it you ask?

Well it is the "Mac-Daddy" of all cameras ~ in my opinion. It is a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2MP Digital SLR with 75-300mm Lens - Black!

(I also ordered a few other accessories for this "Mac-Daddy" that I am truly loving!)

Now that I have this amazing machine within my own hands, I can't believe I waited this long to get one (well in reality ~ it was the price that kept holding me back).

What made me purchase this camera now you ask?

Well...

1st ~ We are headed to Disney this coming January for 2 weeks to celebrate Francesca's 5th birthday and seeing how I don't want to miss one second of all the celebrating we will be doing - well you get the idea...

2nd ~ We once again {praying-hoping-praying} will be traveling to China for our son, Benjamin. Seeing how this will be our third time traveling together as a family (and of course Grandma is joining us) why not get the camera now and do some test shots...

and

3rd ~ I got an amazing offer on my old Sony camera that I just couldn't pass up...



Here are a few photos of my Francesca that are not touched up in any way...(not that she needs to be)





The photos are so crisp and clear...I still can't believe it has taken me this long to break down and purchase one...

But I am so happy that I did...

Pilgrims, Indians, and Tee Pees - Oh My!

The week before Thanksgiving, Francesca's school was working on learning all about the Pilgrims & Indians that started the whole Thanksgiving tradition. They even built a giant tee pee in there classroom to celebrate the week's lesson. Along with the giant tee pee, each student in the class also made an edible tee pee! Francesca was super exciting and very proud of her tee pee and as soon as I snapped this photo, we were all sitting down enjoying a taste of her masterpiece!





She also made a beautiful Pilgrim costume to wear during her school's holiday feast that was hosted by the teachers at MCPP the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was just so cute that she ended up wearing it on Thanksgiving Day at Grandma's!





(doesn't she make just the prettiest pilgrim ~ ever...)